Buffering All the Way for Winterbottom Win
Description:
Star sprinter Buffering never gave backers an anxious moment in the Aus$1 million Winterbottom Stakes (Aus-I) Nov. 21 as Damian Browne took the 8-year-old straight to the lead at Ascot and stayed there to get the win.
Sent off the favorite, the Mossman gelding bested Watermans Bay by one length while capturing the race for a second time. Fast 'n' Rocking was three-quarters of a length back in third and Silverstream and Madassa dead-heated for fourth
The 2013 race winner, Buffering strode past the post to finish in stakes record time of 1.08.17 for 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on turf rated as good.
Watermans Bay closed from well back in a determined rally but had to settle for the runner-up spot again after his neck second to Magnifioso in last year's race. He was third to Buffering in 2013. Magnifioso checked in 13th of 15 runners in Saturday's race.
Bred by Racetree, Buffering is trained by Robert Heathcote for a partnership.
Post race Heathcote ran out of superlatives for Buffering, a son of the Anabaa mare Action Annie who tallied a sixth win at the top level.
"What a wonderful animal, a wonderful horse," he said of Buffering, adding that a trip to Dubai and Royal Ascot might be in the future next year. "If he is sound and happy and racing as he is now, why not go on, anything is possible."